Pitman for pumping-jacks.



No. 866,182' PATBNTED SEPT. 17, 1907.

W. S. BEERS. v

PITMAN FOR PUMPING JAGKS.

APPLICATION FILED OOT.27. 1906.

I said invention consists of means hereinafter fully de scribed and particularly set forth in the claims.

posed.

WALTER BEERS, OF MARION, INDIANA.

PITMAN FOR PUMPING-JACKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'sept. 17, 1907.

Application filed October 27,1906. Serial No. 840,795-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER S. Bnnus, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Marion,'county of Grant, and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pitmen for Pumping- Jacks, of which thefollowing is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

My invention relates to improvements in pumping jacks such as are used in connection with oil and Artesian wells. These improvements particularly concern the construction of the pitman whereby the walking, or false, beam of the pumping mechanism employed about such wells is operatively connected with the pumping jack, proper, the object being to render this connection more durable and more easily lubricated than is the case in structures at present in use.

To the accomplishment of this and related objects,

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing: Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a pitman embodying my several improved features, together with portions of the ends of the pumping jack and walking beam that it is designed to connect, the latter as well as the respective ends of the pitman being shown in longitudinal cross-section; Fig. 2 represents in transverse cross-section the lower end of such pitman together with the arm of the pumping jack upon which it rests; Fig. 3 and 6 represent in perspective the bearing plates for the upper and lower ends of the pitman respectively; and Figs. 4 and 5 represent the journals that form such upper and lower pitman ends respectively. As will be easily understood by those familiar with the appliances of the oil field and with the art of de veloping and working oil wells, both a special form of pump and of pump operating mechanism have had to be devised to meet the needs peculiar to this service. It iswith the latter, that is the operating mechanism, alone that we are here concerned. One form of such mechanism in its approved form consists of a strong, well braced, frame on the sills of which is pivotally mounted the pumping jack consisting of two arms joined together at right angles and suitably braced, the one being horizontally, the other vertically dis- The pivotal axis upon which the jack oscillates is located near the corner where the two arms are joined, and actuation of such jack is effected through a rod connected with the upper end of the vertically disposed arm, such rod being one of a series whereby a number of neighboring wells are connected with each other and with one central power plant. Pivotally mounted in the same frame as the jack, and above such jack and parallel with the horizontally extended arm thereof, is a walking or false beam, the outer end of which projects beyond the end of such arm, and is attached to the rod of the pump by a bly board or adjusting board. Operative connection is made between the outer end of the horizontal arm of the jack and such walking beam by means of a pitman. Obviously this pitman is never put under severe tension, for the weight of the pump rod and valves together with that of the column of liquid supported thereby will at all times hold the pitman in compression, and particularly so when the walking beam is being raised during the actuating stroke of the jack.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing, A designates the outer end of the horizontal arm of the pumping jack, which, hereafter, I shall simply call the pumping jack. Similarly B is the outer end of the walking beam. Between these is located the pitman 0. It should have been stated above that in this illustrated form of jack the jack and Walking beam are almost universally made of Wooden timbers, hence the saddle and boxes whereby the jack is pivotally mounted in the frame, together with the pitman and its bearings, are the only metallic parts about the entire rig. Such pitman G, as shown, consists of a strong, rigid hollow pipe or rod upon the respective ends of which are screw-threaded Ts C 0 the transverse portions 0 c of which form cylindrical journals or trunnions. To receive such journal ends of the pitman there are provided two bearing plates A and B, the first upon the top surface of the jack A and the second upon under side of the walking beam B. These plates are substantially identical, be ing respectively formed with a properly disposed concave cylindrical bearing portion, a b adapted to receive the corresponding ends of the pitman. Such ends are, when journaled in the bearings, laterally confined therein by ears a a, b 1), whereby the sides of the bearings are closed. To prevent longitudinal displace ment, however slight the danger of such displacement ma y be in view of what has been above pointed out, pins a b are passed through suitable apertures a b in the ears of the respective bearing plates, and longitudinally through the corresponding journals 0 C Thorough lubrication of the upper bearing is made possible by the provision of an aperture 1) in beam B that communicates with a corresponding aperture b in bearing plate B. Journal 0 is longitudinally grooved to insure the longer retention of the lubricant. In the case of the lower bearing, the T O that forms the lower journal, being hollow, is utilized as an oil cup, a

hole 0 in pitman 0 above such '1 being provided for the admission of the lubricant thereto, and one or more holes 0 being provided on the under side of such T for the escape of the lubricant therefrom to the bearing.

The principle of operation of my improved pitman connection being of course perfectly evident, it only remains to point out the several commendable features presented thereby. Obviously in a structure such as the pumping rig described it is desirable to have as large a degree of rigidity as it is possible to secure. At the same time the parts entering into such structure must be capable of being readily assembled and taken apart in the often difiicult and trying situations of the Held, and the number of parts that cannot be constructed or replaced from material available in the field should be a minimum.

The above requirements are admirably filled by my device, which by virtue of the large, and at the same time readily lubricated, bearing surfaces provided by plates A B and journals 0 0 is not easily weakened nor unduly worn by the severe strains and racking movements to which it is subjected. This effect is further heightened by the use of the ears a a, b 1), whereby the lateral displacement of the pitman ends in the bearings is prevented and an approximately true alinement at all times maintained. The work of the pump is thus made easier and unnecessary friction avoided. My device, moreover, comprises but three parts that are readily mounted in the frame work of the rig, and that can be made sufiiciently heavy and strong to stand an indefinite amount of wear and hard usage without requiring to be renewed.

Having thus described my invention in detail, that which I particularly point out and distinctly claim, is:

l. The combination with a driving and driven member; of means 'for operatively connecting said members, such means comprising a pitman provided with a transversely disposed hollow cylindrical journal at each end, end plates mounted upon said driving and driven member, respectively, each of such plates having a perforated lateral integral extension and formed with concave cylindrical bearings adapted to receive the corresponding hollow ends of said pitman and with projecting ears adapted to laterally secure the hollow ends of said bearings between the said projecting ears. I

2. The combination with a driving and driven member; of means for operatlvely connecting said members, such means comprising a pitman rod screw-threaded at each end thereof and fitted at each end to a T-shaped hollow journal, perforated bearing plates mounted upon the driving and driven member, such plates being formed with open concave cylindrical bearings adapted to receive the corresponding hollow journals on the ends of said pitman and with upwardly-projecting apertured ears adapted to laterally confine said journals in said bearings, and a pin passing through the ears of each such plate and the hollow trunnion journaled therein whereby the latter is secured against longitudinal displacement.

Signed by me this 12th day of October, 1906.

WALTER S. BEERS. 

